title: T tube intubation in the management of seriously ill patients with oesophagopleural fistulae.
abstract: Ten patients referred late with oesophagopleural fistulae were managed by T tube intubation of the oesophageal defect. Seven survived and six had radiographic evidence of closure of the defect. One patient who removed his T tube early was discharged to convalesce with a small oesophagocutaneous fistula. Three patients died as a consequence of pre-existing renal failure, upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Patients presenting late with multisystem complications and ongoing sepsis secondary to oesophagopleural fistulae pose a major management problem. Our preliminary results suggest that T tube intubation offers a potential alternative to major surgical intervention, when more conservative measures have failed.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, City Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dark
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000150:complications; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications